Destination Queenstown (DQ) and Lake Wānaka Tourism (LWT), the regional tourism organisations for Queenstown and Wānaka, have announced that development of an airport in Tarras is not aligned with the new regenerative tourism approach in the Southern Lakes. 

“DQ and LWT share the concerns of the Queenstown and Wānaka communities, who are worried about the ‘over-tourism’ created from a third airport in the immediate region,” the joint statement said.

Christchurch International Airport Ltd (CIAL) has released a feasibility study for a possible airport at Tarras which indicates it could support planes flying to and from Australia, the Pacific and even Southeast Asia. 

Read more: Flights to Southeast Asia from Tarras feasible

“The development of an airport at Tarras will drive an increase in visitor numbers to the region on a scale never seen before, due to the huge capacity increase enabled by wide body jets, capable of flying directly from long haul markets,” the two RTOs said.

“This increase in visitor numbers is not aligned with the quality over quantity approach the Queenstown and Wānaka communities have endorsed via the region’s destination management plan.”

The Queenstown Lakes management plan aims to manage visitor impacts to benefit the people and community, which the RTOs say is inconsistent with enabling wide body jet services directly into the region. PHOTO: Wānaka App

“The goal of ‘regenerative tourism by 2030’ [the destination management plan] reflects feedback from communities around the region and is centred around ensuring we are thriving not just economically but also socially, culturally and environmentally. Part of the strategy is encouraging value over volume from our visitors, targeting high contributing visitors and shaping the demand for Queenstown and Wānaka…”

The RTOs said not servicing potential increased demand for the Southern Lakes region would not necessarily lead to congestion and inefficient travel patterns. 

“Adjusting visitor volume and visitor origin are two levers of change that can support decarbonisation and regenerative tourism.”

The joint statement also said the district does not have the visitor infrastructure for the number of people a new airport would bring. 

QLDC's quality of life research also shows that Queenstown and Wānaka residents do not support significant growth in visitor numbers, DQ and LWT said. 

“In addition, DQ and LWT's Views on Tourism research indicates that sentiment toward tourism is already at risk, with approval ratings below the New Zealand average rating. 

DQ and LWT support Queenstown Airport in its current location and working within the current capacity levels. 

“It is a community asset and facility that the Southern Lakes can be proud of, and one which the community is the majority shareholder of…

“Under the Tarras proposal, the Southern Lakes region would bear the burden of increased pressures on its infrastructure without any of the associated economic benefits from airport ownership – the profits would go out of region.”

Tourism Central Otago head of destination Anthony Longman said the tourism organisation, which is part of the Central Otago District Council, had no opinion on the proposed airport.

"The council approach is that we have no standing on the Tarras airport as council may be involved in [deciding whether or not to approve CIAL’s resource consent application]," he said.